Player Page

Matt Barkley | Quarterback

Latest News

Recent News

Eagles traded up with the Jaguars to select USC QB Matt Barkley with the No. 98 overall pick, sending Jacksonville the Nos. 101 and 201 picks.

Oddest fit of the draft so far. Barkley (6-foot-2 1/2, 227) wrapped his college career with a 64.1 completion rate and 116:48 TD-to-INT ratio as a four-year starter in USC's pro-style offense. Though decorated and productive, Barkley's inability to drive throws outside the numbers and lack of mobility put a lid on his long-range upside. Barkley draws high marks for intelligence and leadership, but has a skill set similar to Andy Dalton or Chad Pennington. Based on tape study, NFL Films' Greg Cosell has called Barkley a fourth-round talent -- he proved wrote -- and insists Mark Sanchez was a better prospect coming out of USC. New Eagles coach Chip Kelly has been open about changing his offense to suit his personnel, but we wouldn't be surprised if Barkley never played a down in Philadelphia and is simply being drafted as future trade bait. Sat, Apr 27, 2013 12:13:00 PM

New Bills head coach Doug Marrone has said in the past he likes Barkley, but we find it a bit odd this news breaks now. Whether it's a smokescreen or not is uncertain but one thing's certain: the Bills need a quarterback and Barkley has the intangibles that teams look for. Wed, Apr 24, 2013 05:01:00 PM

The Jacksonville Jaguars are high on USC QB Matt Barkley, according to Jason La Canfora.

There have been rumors that the team could be looking to draft an offensive tackle, but one thing that we can't seem to shake is the team doesn't have a quarterback they can trust. Perhaps Barkley would be one that they can sit and develop while Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne spend a part of the season playing. Wed, Apr 24, 2013 04:07:00 PM

USC QB Matt Barkley said the team's play-calling was "predictive" last season.

"Kiff kind of suited the play-calling toward Marqise," Barkley said. "It was rough at times, because defenses kinda knew what was coming. It was sort of predictive. Robert Woods is a great player. … You want to be respectful of your coaches, because they are your elders, but when it falls on your shoulders, you probably should get involved." Barkley also said he would have had a more forceful, leader-type voice. Mon, Apr 22, 2013 03:52:00 PM

Player News

New Bills head coach Doug Marrone has said in the past he likes Barkley, but we find it a bit odd this news breaks now. Whether it's a smokescreen or not is uncertain but one thing's certain: the Bills need a quarterback and Barkley has the intangibles that teams look for.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are high on USC QB Matt Barkley, according to Jason La Canfora.

There have been rumors that the team could be looking to draft an offensive tackle, but one thing that we can't seem to shake is the team doesn't have a quarterback they can trust. Perhaps Barkley would be one that they can sit and develop while Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne spend a part of the season playing.

USC QB Matt Barkley said the team's play-calling was "predictive" last season.

"Kiff kind of suited the play-calling toward Marqise," Barkley said. "It was rough at times, because defenses kinda knew what was coming. It was sort of predictive. Robert Woods is a great player. … You want to be respectful of your coaches, because they are your elders, but when it falls on your shoulders, you probably should get involved." Barkley also said he would have had a more forceful, leader-type voice.

One NFL scout said USC QB Matt Barkley is a "late 1st, early second" round pick.

The scout said that Barkley has "helped himself" but there are still concerns with him. Add this report to the various other ones about Barkley's stock, which seems to be all over the map. At this point, it's best to say that Barkley will simply be drafted.

The National Football Post's Russ Lande has mocked USC QB Matt Barkley to the Jaguars with pick No. 2.

"New GM David Caldwell learned under Bill Polian and Thomas Dimitroff that for a QB to excel in the NFL they must have rare football intelligence, work ethic and intangibles," Lande writes. "Barkley may not have rare physical talents, but above the shoulders he is outstanding so he fits that criteria." We think Barkley might be an option in the second-round, but not at pick No. 2.

The Bills are obviously doing their homework on the entire quarterback class, but we wouldn't count on Barkley being among their top choices. Ryan Nassib and Geno Smith have been linked to the team, but EJ Manuel and Mike Glennon are two other names who have been mentioned. A trade back into the late first-round is the likeliest scenario.

"I've seen him struggle to complete balls in warm-ups," one front-office man said. 'He makes his receivers work for it.'" The concerns over Barkley have been well documented, though not many have talked about his accuracy. Barkley wasn't always accurate with the ball last season but did a better job the previous year. Something worth watching when he gets into the NFL.

This comes as little surprise considering there isn't one quarterback that the Bills haven't had in for a visit. It appears that they are strongly considering drafting a quarterback but the question is when? Barkley may need to be taken No. 8 overall but not Scott. Whoever they choose, they can afford to give them time to learn the game vicariously as Kevin Kolb starts.

We doubt either pulls the trigger on Barkley in the first-round, but both teams are doing their due diligence with the quarterback position. When in a nice rhythm, Barkley has good timing and placement, but a lack of mobility and velocity to buy himself time or make throws against pressure could result in major issues.

USC QB Matt Barkley will have a private workout with the Cardinals on Saturday.

Head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim are set to attend. Around the time of the Combine, Barkley's name was connected tot he Cardinals at pick No. 7. Now that seems highly doubtful, as the Cardinals have added multiple veterans at the position. We don't love the fit in terms of styles, either.

"I don't think Barkley really hurt himself," said the director "He was the same guy last year. He didn't start falling in October, no matter where he was on everyone's 'big board' in December. I looked at Barkley (after his junior year), and I thought he was a backup quarterback. I told people, 'I'm not sold.' And it was the same thing this year. In the end, I don't think he hurt himself." Another director said he gave Barkley a second round grade.

Wide receiver Robert Woods will also be a part of the workout. "Barkley will be the fifth quarterback Buffalo has privately worked out in the past two weeks," ESPN's James Walker writes. "The Bills also held workouts with West Virginia's Geno Smith, Florida State's EJ Manuel, Oklahoma's Landry Jones and Tennessee's Tyler Bray."

ESPN's Adam Schefter has no doubts that USC QB Matt Barkley will be a first-round pick.

Schefter did note that it will be "a bit more challenging to be the first quarterback off the board." We find a hard time putting Barkley in the first-round with how teams are currently slotted, but draft day trades could certainly change that. Schefter has now all but guaranteed Barkley and Te'o as first-round picks.

Pro Football Weekly ranks USC's Matt Barkley as the top QB in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The rest of their rankings are as follows: 2. Ryan Nassib, 3. E.J. Manuel, 4. Tyler Wilson, 5. Zac Dysert, 6. Geno Smith. This is the first resource we've seen that ranks Barkley at No. 1, or that lists Geno at No. 6, but it goes to show the variety of opinion regarding this quarterback class.